Guantanamo

U.n. Wants Prison Camp Closed

June 1, 2006

The United States realizes it has a well-deserved image problem regarding the Guantanamo Bay prison camp, where captives in the war on terror are held. But a United Nations panel that recommended closing the camp apparently doesn't realize that there is nowhere else to put the prisoners, some of whom may be extremely dangerous.

The detainees' fate will remain in limbo until the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether they can be brought before military tribunals. In the meantime, the Bush administration has an obligation, under treaties the United States has signed, to make sure the prisoners are treated according to international standards of decency.

It also must make sure they have access to lawyers. If the United States is going to insist that other countries respect the rule of law, it must do likewise.